EDF says Britain is priority

By Marie Maitre and Benjamin Mallet

PARIS (Reuters) - French power giant EDF (EDF.PA) restated its ambitions to take on Europe, naming Britain, Spain and Belgium as key targets of expansion.

"We're of course examining external growth opportunities... This means building on our positions when we're already present in a country, and to develop in new countries," Pierre Gadonneix told the state-controlled company's annual shareholders meeting on Tuesday.

Gadonneix stopped short of naming the companies the French nuclear power giant covets in Britain and Spain, only saying that the United Kingdom was a "priority" country and that no decision had yet been made on Spain.

British Energy BGY.L said on Friday it has received several takeover proposals valuing it at more than 10.8 billion pounds.

In addition to EDF, sources close to the matter have also named a group made up of Germany's RWE (RWEG.DE) and Spain's Iberdrola (IBE.MC), and Suez (LYOE.PA) as those in contact with British Energy.

EDF is already present in Britain through its wholly owned subsidiary EDF Energy, but the acquisition of British Energy would strengthen its presence and put it in the forefront of Britain's new drive towards nuclear power.

In Spain, EDF has admitted holding discussions with Iberdrola (IBE.MC) shareholder ACS (ACS.MC) on a possible takeover, but has said nothing further on its intentions after facing strong opposition from Iberdrola's management.

"We have made our interest for the Spanish market public. Any potential deal would have to fulfil our investment criteria. At this stage, no decision is made," EDF told shareholders on Tuesday.